Thursday, June 7, 2018

(Update August 1, 2018)
On Wednesday the Senate passed a bill that exempts livestock haulers from ELD compliance until September 2019. The current legislation has two months to finalize 2019 appropriation packages.

A bill filed in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 23, 2018, may bring ELD exemption for small carriers. If passed, carriers with 10 or fewer trucks will be exempt from the Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) electronic logging device mandate permanently. Here is what you need to know about the possible ELD exemption for small carriers.

The Small Carrier Electronic Logging Device Exemption Act of 2018 would allow carriers with 10 or fewer trucks to use paper logs instead of the mandated electronic logging devices. For this piece of legislation to pass it will need to be approved by the House, Senate, and President Trump.

Representatives Collin Peterson and Greg Glanforte also introduced a bill that would exempt drivers hauling agricultural commodities from the ELD mandate. Livestock drivers have received an ELD exemption until the end of September but will need to comply after this date. Agricultural truckers have only until June 19th to switch from paper to an electronic logbook.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

FMCSA Director Hears ELD Concerns at MATS

During the Mid-America Trucking Show, commonly known as MATS 2018, federal regulators faced off against a standing-room-only crowd of owner-operators and other trucking veterans from across the nation.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Director of Enforcement and Compliance, Joseph DeLorenzo, hosted a seminar during the first day of MATS; here is what happened and what you need to know about the ELD Exemptions.

What You Need to Know About The ELD Exemptions

Since the Electronic Logging Devices Mandate (ELDs) back in December, there has been growing concern among the trucking community. From older truck exemptions to confusion over the agricultural exemption this hour-long seminar covered more than just type of ELD compliance.

Older Truck Exemption

Joseph DeLorenzo faced off against a standing-room-only crowd lead my trucking veterans across the nation. This first wave of questions centered around the older truck exemption to which DeLorenzo stated that all pre-2000 engines are exempt. And this ELD exemption applies to all pre-2000 engines whether it came with the vehicle or if it was a replacement.

However, this exemption does not apply if the pre-2000 engines are rebuilt to a certain extent and should be relabeled. If you undergo a roadside inspection, the officer will check the engine tag to determine if your truck is exempt.

ELD AG Exemption

Is all transportation of agricultural commodities exempt? This is a more difficult question that owner-operators and self-employed drivers put to DeLorenzo. To sum up his response, the federal definition is the rule of thumb regardless of the state definition of agriculture.

According to the federal government, ELD Ag exemption is considered the transportation of bees, livestock, unprocessed fruits, and vegetables. The exclusivity of the federal definition of agricultural commodities leaves several drivers concerned considering the ELD mandate.

Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate

Under the ELD exemption, you do not have to comply with new regulations if you do not exceed 150-miles more than eight times in a 30-day period. Once you extend past this, you have 11 hours of driving time and 14 hours of off-duty time.

The 90-day waiver for federally defined agricultural commodities pushes the pause button on the ELD mandate. If you are transporting agricultural commodities as defined by the federal government, you will be covered under the ELD AG Exemption no matter how many time you exceed the 150-mile distance.

ELD Deadline

As drivers, you should already be aware that the deadline for complying with the ELD mandate is April 1st. If you are found without an electronic logging device, you will be cited and most likely ticketed if you cannot prove exemption.

After the April 1st ELD deadline, you will be put out of service for 10 hours and then allowed to complete your run. However, you are required to install an ELD immediately before your next route. If you are later found without an ELD, you will receive an out-of-service violation under the ELD mandate.

We want to hear from you! Let us know your thoughts on the ELD mandate.